Abt has announced Robin Frijns and Nico Muller as their 2023 Formula E lineup, as the German team returns to the series for Gen3 following a one-year hiatus.
The pair bring a combined eight seasons’ experience to the team, Frijns makes the jump from Envision Racing where he finished seventh in season eight with four podiums.
Like Abt, Muller had a season out last year following a season and a half with Dragon, he has a best finish of 20th but should improve if Abt can mirror the success they previously enjoyed with Audi in seven seasons of Formula E.
“I know the Abt team and Nico from the DTM, where we had a great atmosphere in the team and were very successful,” Frijns said, “That’s exactly how we want to continue in Formula E.
“Of course, it is a big step for all of us and we will have to learn a lot and quickly but I have full confidence in the Abt team, which has caused a stir in every racing series in its history. It’s great to be a part of it again.”
A Formula E veteran entering his sixth year in the sport, the Dutchman peaked in Season 5 taking two wins on the way to a fourth-place championship finish.
After four strong years with Envision, he joins an Abt squad returning to the sport without the backing of Audi.
The partnership were regular frontrunners and won a championship with Lucas di Grassi, but from Season 9 they’ll be flying solo powered by Mahindra.
The dream team
Aged 30 and 31 respectively, the pair bring a wealth of experience both in Formula E and beyond.
Though Muller‘s pointless first season with the uncompetitive GEOX Dragon team was nothing to write home about, he improved for his second campaign and was the most impressive of the team’s three drivers in 2020-21.
His racing CV boasts two runner-up finishes in DTM with Audi-Abt, and a GP3 podium way back in in 2010.
“I’m really looking forward to this new chapter with Abt and to my return to Formula E,” Muller said.
“I’m also racing together with Robin, with whom I simply had a great time on and off the track – I think there are some good ingredients coming together that will put us in a good position for this new challenge.
“Personally, I still have a score to settle with Formula E after my difficult year and a half anyway, and I’m happy to have the chance to settle it together with this team.”
While Frijns leads the pair on paper, the Swiss driver will hope they can form an effective partnership in a championship that features just three non-manufacturer teams.
“Robin and Nico were our absolute dream team right from the start,” said Hans-Juergen Abt, Managing Partner of Abt.
“They have everything we need for our Formula E comeback: speed, experience and the right spirit.
“If we want to hold our own against the big factory teams in the new season, we need a small and powerful team. And that’s where Robin and Nico fit in perfectly.”
